2014 Pascale Pinot Noir

2014 Pascale Pinot Noir

The 2014 vintage was the first of our wines to be submitted for rating receiving 95 points from Decanter Magazine, 94 points from Wine Enthusiast, and 91 points from Wine Advocate

In 2014 early mild temperatures led to an early bud break, early bloom and an unusually sunny growing season. In February, we pruned to allow each plant to produce low yields of only the finest fruit possible. We harvested just under a ton of fruit in early September. At the winery the fruit was boot tread ahead of a ten-day cold soak after which it was gravity-fed into French Oak barrels. The wine was aged for 18 months in the barrel (50% new and 50% old oak) and has rested an additional 2.5 years in the bottle before release. Our wine benefits from the additional aging in the bottle, allowing for pronounced nuances and the subtle softening of flavors.

This wine can be enjoyed now and will continue to age beautifully.

Reviews:

Decanter Magazine, June 2018

95 Points.

The 44ha Pescadero Creek Vineyard is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, just 8km from the Pacific Ocean and straddling the fog line, which creates a unique microclimate. The vineyard itself covers a mere 0.8ha, planted with around 5,000 Burgundian clones of Pinot Noir on mudstone shale. Starting with 0.2ha in 2001, additional vines were planted in 2003 and 2008 due to increasing demand for the estate's wines. Production remains tiny, but has increased from 25 cases of the 2007 vintage to over 100 cases of the 2013. The Pascale Pinot Noir has been aged in three-year-old French oak barrels.

SB: Vibrant, ripe cherry and vanilla aromas on the nose lead to a broad and succulent palate with fine fruit concentration and ample, ripe tannins. There's plenty of extraction here, but it's not too grippy - and the structure is welcoming. Firm but long. 95.

JD: Earthy aromas and savoury notes on the palate, with vanilla and coffee. Finishes grippy and firm. Lovely. 93.

RS: Fine, elegant and tight on the nose. It has a refined, rich palate of sweet cola and fruit. Opulent and fun. 97

Wine Enthusiast, July 2018

94 Points.

Dark in the glass, this bottling from an extremely coastal vineyard shows black plum, intense cola, baked earth and hints of bay leaf and white pepper on the nose. Framed by bright acidity and a tight structure, the palate is savory with salt and pepper, salted plum and hibiscus flavors. It is a thought-provoking wine.

Wine Advocate, May 2018

91 Points.

The 2014 Pinot Noir Pascale wafts from the glass with aromas of red-black plums, dark chocolate and forest floor, subtly framed by new oak. On the palate, it's full-bodied, rich and layered, with an ample chassis of chewy tannins, juicy fruit and a fine-grained but youthfully assertive finish that may owe some of its grip to oak tannin. I'll be interested to follow this new project's evolution in coming vintages.